Miter-box.



W. N. CRAIG.

MITEB. BOX.

APPLIoATIoN FILED Dnc. z2, 1911.

Patented Jllly 9, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANQUE/Pn co.. WASHINGTON D c W. N. CRAIG.

MITBR BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED nnc.zz,1911.

L, Patented July 9, 1912.

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| I H.) IllllllIIIIIHHWHHIIIIHIHIIIHIHIHI DNI S WILLIAM N. CRAIG, OF MLINE, ILLINOIS.

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Application led December 22, 1911. Serial No. 667,306.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. CRAIG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Moline, county of Rock Island, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Miter-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to miter boxes and seeks, first, to provide a simple construction which can be easily and compactly folded for transportation and readily set up and securely held in set up position for accurate wo-rk.

The invention also seeks to provide an improved saw guide or guides for a miter box.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the preferred forms in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the miter box in open or set up position with a portion of the base broken away. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a miter box in folded posit-ion. Fig. 4 is a .front elevation of parts in open position. Fig. 5 is an inverted lan view, with the parts in setV up position. Fig. 6 is a detail section of one of the saw guides on the line 6 of Fig. 2.

The improved miter box comprises rear and front guide posts A and B rigidly secured to the opposite ends of an arm or yoke C, back sect-ions D and a base board E. The arm or yoke C is provided with enlarged perforated ends through which the lower,

reduced end portions 1 of the posts A and B extend, the posts being rigidly secured to the yoke preferably by means of pins 2 extending through the yoke and through the reduced lower ends of the posts. The back of the miter box, in the preferred form shown, comprises two upright sections D of wood which are fixed to a longitudinally extending metal strip or bracketk D. Screws 3 extend through the metal strip D into the lower edge of the back sections D. Preferably, also, the strip or bracket D is provided with upwardly extending arms 1 which are fastened by screws to the rear faces of the back sections D. Between the back sections Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1912.

the metal strip or bracket D is provided with a perforated enlargement or hub 1 within which the lower end of the cylindrical rear post A is journaled. rIhe rear enlarged end of the yoke C i'its between the enlarged hub portion e and the enlarged central portion 5 of a metal piece 6. The ends of the piece G are secured to depending lugs 7 on the strip or bracket D by screws 8. The yoke C, which carries the guide posts,is thus pivotally mounted to the lower central portion of the back of the miter box to swing in a horizontal plane.

lIhe bottom of the miter box, in the preferred form shown, comprises a base board E of wood or the like and a cast metal frame E which is secured to the lower face of the base board by screws 9 extending through perforated lugs 10 on the metal frame. IIhe frame E is preferably provided at its ends with depending legs 1-1 for holding the miter box above the surface of a bench or other suitable support. The base board E is connected at its rear edge to the lower edges of the back sections D by hinges 12 so that the base of the miter box can swing vertically between the back of the box and the yoke C.

The pivotal connection between the back of the miter box and the yoke C is provided with broad bearing surfaces so that, while the yoke is free to swing in a horizontal plane, it is always rigidly held in a plane at right angles to the back. the miter box and the yoke are provided Vwith releasable interlocking parts for holding the base at right angles to the back when the miter box is in open or set up posirfhe base of tion. In the form shown, these parts comprise an upwardly projecting undercut lug F upon the outer end of the yoke or arm C and a segment I-I which is preferably formed in one piece with the metal base frame E. The segment H is provided with a forwardly projecting horizontal flange 13 having a notch 11i at one end. In the open or set up position of the miter box, the segment II engages the upper face of the yoke C and the overhanging portion of the lug F engages the flange 13 of the segment to securely hold the base at rightangles to the back of the miter box. By swinging the yoke to its extreme lefthand position the lug F is brought in line with the notch 14 so that the base can be swung upwardly to folded position against the face of the back sections D.

rIhe base and yoke C are also provided with interlocking parts for` holding the yoke and saw guides thereon in different angular positions, relatively to the back of the boX. For this purpose a catch bolt I is slidably mounted in a pair of upwardly projecting lugs 15 on the outer end of the yoke C, and is arranged to coperate with a seriesof seats 16 formed in the face of the segment II. A spring 17 is coiled about the catch pin I, has its inner end connected to the pin and its outer end bearing upon the outer bolt 15. The spring thus serves to press the cat-ch bolt inwardly into engagement with one of the seat-s 16 on the segment II. rIlle segment H is somewhat greater than 900 and, in the form shown, the seats 16 are arranged to hold the saw guides at angles of 450 and 90 to the back of the miter boX. If desired, the segment H could be provided with other seats for locking the yoke and saw guides in other angular positions. In folding or setting up the miter box, the yoke C, as stated, is swung to its extreme left hand posit-ion, the catch or locking pin I is then brought in line with a notch 18 in the flange 13 and by withdrawing the pin, it will pass through this notch as the base is swung to or from the yoke.

In folding the miter boX, the catch or locking pin I is first withdrawn from engagement with the end ofthe seats 16 and the yoke C is swung to its extreme left hand position. rIhe lug F and pin I are then in line with the notches 14: and 18 of the fiange 13 so that the base can be swung upwardly away from the yoke against the front face of the back section D. The yoke is then swung to the right and the front guide post B is brought snugly against the outer face of the base to hold the parts in folded position. rIhe metal frame E of the base is preferably cut away to provide notches or seats 19 which receive the front guide post B in the folded position of the parts shown in Fig. 3. 'Io permit this compact folding in the particular form shown, the rear end of the yoke or arm C is bent or offset to clear the right hand lug 7 on the metal strip or bracket D. In setting up the boX for use, the yoke is swung to its eXtreme left hand position, or until the offset or curved portion thereof engages the left hand lug 7. The base is then swung down toward the yoke and by withdrawing the catch or locking pin I, the pin I and lug F on the yoke are passed through the notches 14 and 18 to position above the flange 13. The boX is thus readily set up for use or folded for transportation and it is not necessary to detach, loosen or remove any parts to effect these operations. The parts including the yoke and guide post thereon, fold into thin, flat, compact form convenient for carrying or storing. In t-he open position, the base and back of the box are securely locked at right angles to each other and the yoke C, which extends beneath the base, can be freely swung to position the saw guides carried by the posts or holders A and B.

The guide posts A and B are formed of can be used and it is unnecessary to employ a saw having a reinforcement at its back edge or to provide supplemental guides for keeping the saw teeth out of contact with the faces of the swinging or adjustable guides.

The replaceable or removable saw guides are preferably formed of a rectangular piece of wood 2O which is bifurcated throughout the greater portion of its length by akerf 21 and which is provided on its outer faces with grooves arranged to engage ribs 22 upon the inner faces of the members of the bifurcated post. rlhe saw guides of wood or the like are thus placed in position within the guide posts or holders and are removed by sliding the guides longitudinally of the posts. The members of each bifurcated post converge slightly toward their upper ends, so that in placing the saw guide 20 in position, the upper ends of the members of the post must be forced apart to admit the lower jointed or unkerfed end of the saw guide. W hen the guide is fully placed in position, the upper ends of the members of the bifurcated post press the upper ends of the inembers of the bifurcated guide together and thus close the guide kerf 21 at its upper portion, as most clearly shown in Fig. 6. By reason of this construction, the saw, when placed in the kerfs of the front and rear guides, is clamped between the upper ends thereof and is thus supported in raised position ready for use. Moreover, by this arrangement, the upper portions of the saw guides are maintained in close guiding contact with the smooth surfaces of the side blade, notwithstanding the fact that the lower toothed edge ofthe saw is wider than the blade, because of the set 7 of the teeth. In this way, the saw is properly guided while the scoring of the guide faces by' the saw teeth is minimized. In this improved guide the saw is accurately held in position, the teeth of the saw do not become dull from the contact with the guiding faces of wood or the like and in practice it is found that the necessity of replacing the guides occurs with great infrequency.

`When the saw is placed in position in the improved guides, t-he members of the guide posts yield somewhat to admit the saw into the guide kerfs 2l. To prevent this yielding action of the members of the bifurcated posts from throwing the saw out of proper position, one of the side members of each post is relatively thick, stiff and unyielding while the opposite member is relatively thin and resilient, as shown most clearly in Fig. (i. ln this figure the stiff and resilient'members of the post B are designated respectively by the reference letters b and Z9. WY ith this arrangement, the yielding and clamping action of the members of the guide post is eected by the movement of the resilient member 7) while the stiff, unyielding member prevents the displacement of the saw from its proper vertical position and holds it in line with the center of movement of the adjustable guides. The rear' guide post A is also preferably formed of stiff, unyielding members and preferably the member of each post at the right hand side, in view from the front, is the stiff, unyielding member, while the opposite or left hand member is yielding.

In the present improved construction the guide posts are provided at their inner ends each with a roller 23, which is journaled bet-ween a pair of lugs 24 on the adjacent guide post. rlhese rollers are formed of fiber, hard rubber or other light material not readily cut by a. wood saw. The rollers are set in position with their axes at right angles to the kerfs 21 of the saw guides and wit-h their upper faces slightly below the face of the base board E. The rollers act as stops for the downward movement of the saw. The engagement of the teeth of the saw with the rollers rotates the latter, stops the cutting and arrests the downward movement of the saw. Vf ith this arrangement it is unnecessary to provide the base with a renewable center section. To accommodate the rollers 23 and permit the swing of the yoke and saw guides, t-he base board E is cut away at Q5 on its rear edge to allow for the swinging movement of the roller 23 on the rear guide post and the frontV edge of the board E is provided with notches 26 to receive the roller Q3 on the\front guide post when the latter is swung either to its eX- treme right hand or extreme left hand position.

it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details set forth without departure from the essentials of the invention as defined in the claims and that portions of the invention may be taken without its adoption as an entirety.

I claim as my invention l. A folding miter boX comprising a back,

a base hinged to said back, and a swinging anchor-yoke mounted on said back and arranged to releasably engage said base to lock the same at right angles to said back, said base and said yoke being permanently mounted on said back and arranged to swing to and from the same for folding and setting up the mit-er boX, substantially as described.

2. A folding miter box comprising a back, a base hinged to said back, and a swinging anchor-yoke mounted on said back and arranged to extend forwardly beneath said base, said base having a notched flange and said yoke having a lug arranged to interlock with said iiange and hold said base at right angles to said back, substantially as described.

3. A folding miter box comprising a rigid back, an anchor-yoke pivotally mounted at the lower central portion of said back to swing in a horizontal plane, a rigid base hinged to said back to swing vertically between the same and said yoke, and a sawguide carried by said swinging yoke, said base and yoke having releasable interlocking Yparts for holding said base and back at right angles and for holding said saw-guide in adj usted position, substantially as described.

4. A folding miter boX comprising a rigid back, an anchor-yoke pivotally mounted at the lower central portion of said back to swing in a horizontal plane, a. rigid base hinged to said back to swing vertically between the same and said yoke, and a sawguide carried by said swinging yoke, said base having a notched segment and said yoke having a lug arranged to enter the notch of Asaid segment and slidably engage same to hold the base and back in set-up position, said yoke also having a catch arranged to engage said segment and1 hold said saw-guide in adjusted position, substantially as described.

5. A folding miter' box comprising a back, a base hinged thereto, and a swinging anchor yoke mounted on said back and extending beneath said base, front and rear guide posts on said yoke, said back and yoke being arranged to swing toward said base to folded position with said front guide post against said base, substantially as described.

6. A folding miter box comprising a back, a base hinged to the lower portion of said back to swing vertically to and from the same, a yoke pivotally mounted on the lower, central portion of said back, a rear guide fixed to said yoke in line with its pivot, a front guide post mounted on the outer end of said yoke, said base having a notched segment and said yoke having a lug arranged to slidably engage said segment, and a catch on said yoke, said segment having seats for receiving said catch to hold said yoke and guide posts in different angular 13@ positions, the parts being arranged to swing` to folded position with said base against said back and said front guide posts against the outer face of said base, substantially as described.

7 In a miter box, an adjustable, springforked guide post the members of which converge toward each other from the lower to the upper end of the post, substantially as described.

8. In a miter boX, the combination with a swinging arm, of front and rear springforked guide posts connected to said arm, the members of said forked posts having wo-oden saw engaging strips yieldingly pressed toward each other at their upper ends, substantially as described.

9. In a miter box, an adjustable spring forked guide post formed of metal, the members of said post converging from the lower to the upper end of the post, and having wooden saw engaging strips on their inner adjacent faces, substantially as described.

10. In a miter boX, the combination with` a swinging arm, of front and rear, spi'ingj forked, metal guide posts connected to said.

' arm, the members of said posts converging from their lower to their upper ends and having removable Wooden saw engaging strips on their inner adjacent faces, sub-` stantially as described. y

11. In a miter box, a saw guide comprising saw engaging strips formed of Wood or j the like and resilient means for yieldingly pressing the upper ends of said strips toward each other whereby the saw engaging surfaces of said strips converge from their lower to their upper ends, substantially as described.

12. In a miter boX, the combination with adjustable saw guide members, of forked saw guides formed of wood or the like replaceably mounted in said holders, said holders comprising means for yieldingly press` ing the upper ends of t-he members of said forked saw guides toward each other, substantially as described.

13. In a miter box, the combination of an adjustable, metal guide post having one substantially rigid member and one resilient member converging toward said rigid member from its lower to its upper end, and a forked saw guide removably clamped between said members, substantially as described.

14. In a miter boX, a metal guide post having a substantially'rigid member and a yielding member, of wooden saw engaging strips upon the inner adjacent faces of said members, the saw engaging faces of said strips converging from their lower to their upper ends, substantially as described.

15. in a miter boX, the combination with an adjustable saw guide holder, of a saw guide formed of wood or the like and movably mounted on said holder, said holder comprising means for rigidly supportingl one of the members of said saw guide and means for yieldingly pressing the upper end of the other member of the saw guide toward said rigidly held member, whereby the saw engaging faces of said guide converge from its lower to its upper end, substantially as described.

16. A folding miter boX comprising a longitudinal bracket, a yoke pivotally mounted at one end in the central portion of said bracket, a rear guide post secured to said yoke in line with its pivot, a front guide post mounted on the outer end of said yoke, back sections secured to said bracket in line with and on opposite sides of said rear post,

a base hinged to said back sections and a metal frame secured to said base and having depending legs and a segment at its front portion, said yoke and segment having interengaging parts for holding the base and back at right angles to each other and for holding said yoke in different angular positions.

WILLIAM N. CRAIG.

l/Vitnesses:

WALTER S. MCCLURG, MARiNUs HORSTKAMP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

